Logistics and delivery specialist DHL has announced it is to roll out a Green Carrier Certification to identify UK sub-contractors that are already contributing to sustainable logistics and encourage those that are further behind to invest in green technologies.
A carrier will be assessed on whether it has an environmental or sustainability strategy in place, as well as its ability to measure its carbon footprint and share its data. In addition, the assessment will look at features of its fleet – from basic technologies such as low rolling resistance tires, aerodynamic enhancements and idle cut-off, to advanced green technologies such as sustainable fuels and alternative drivetrains.
The process will result in carriers being awarded one of four levels of certification – ‘Pass’, ‘Good’, ‘Excellent’ and ‘Outstanding’. The categorization is designed to enable DHL and its customers to choose greener services and create an additional decision point for future transportation tenders and assignments.
The certification is being rolled out across all DHL businesses through its primary UK sub-contractor DigiHaul, which manages a network of 750 carriers on behalf of DHL, who will all be invited to take part in the certification program. DigiHaul will be responsible for encouraging participation, conducting the assessments and managing the certification process.
This initiative forms part of DHL’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to below 29,000,000 tons by 2030 and be net-zero by 2050. Overall, to reduce CO2 emissions for the Paris Climate Agreement, the group is investing €7bn (US$7.9bn) in climate-neutral logistics solutions through 2030.
The sustainability roadmap includes, for example, programs for the purchase of sustainable fuels in air and ocean freight as well as line haul, the electrification of last-mile delivery and building climate-neutral logistics sites and warehouses for operations. Ground transportation accounts for 21% of the group’s total CO2 emissions. As such, a reduction of emissions across the company’s sub-contractor network has been deemed critical to support DHL’s sustainability goals.
Tutu Akinkoye, the GoGreen lead at DHL Supply Chain UK and Ireland, said, “Visibility of transport carriers’ emissions, key to delivering science-based targets, has been a challenge to date. DigiHaul has the data collection and processing capabilities to manage the certification program, as well as strong relationships across the carrier community to encourage even more effort from everyone in our industry.”
Martin Willmor, CEO of DigiHaul, added, “It’s vital that everyone involved in road transport is on the same path towards a more sustainable future. The certification program is a great way of recognizing the efforts of those who are already making positive changes, as well as motivating and onboarding others who are a little further behind.”